Understanding the Impact of Loneliness and Psychological Distress on Fear of Missing Out among University Students

Fear of Missing out is the common psychological phenomena characterized by having serious anxiety over missing events or things which can significantly impact the mental health of university students such as missing social experiences is one of the biggest fears of these students. This study examines how loneliness and psychological distress contribute to fear of missing out (FOMO) among university students affecting their academic performance and social and emotional stability too. We examine the relationships between these factors and explore their predictive power on FOMO. Using a survey research design, convenience sampling technique was employed to reach participants. To explore this relationship 350 students were tested using The Fear of Missing Out Scale (Przybylski et al., 2013), University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale UCLA (Russell, 1996) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (KPD) (Kessler & behavior, 1979). Findings from this study suggested a significant positive correlation between loneliness and FOMO among university students. The findings also revealed significant change in the levels of sadness and anxiety between male and female university students. Additionally, Loneliness and psychological distress are significant predictors of FOMO among university students. knowing the meshing between loneliness, psychological distress, and FOMO is crucial for developing interventions that address these issues and promote the well-being of university students.